This January 2020, it is thirty years since the Kashmiri Pundits’ exodus from the Kashmir valley took place. They had suffered grave injustices, violence and humiliation prior to the migration away from the place of their social and cultural roots in Kashmir Valley. The phenomenon of this exodus had been due to the communalization of militancy in Kashmir in the decade of 1980s. While no ruling Government has applied itself enough to ‘solve’ this uprooting of pundits from their roots, there are communal elements who have been aggressively using ‘what about Kashmiri Pundits?’, every time liberal, human rights defenders talk about the plight of Muslim minority in India. This minority is now facing an overall erosion of their citizenship rights.
Time and over again in the aftermath of communal violence in particular, the human rights groups have been trying to put forward the demands for justice and rehabilitation of the victim minority. Instead of being listened to those particularly from Hindu nationalist combine, as a matter of routine shout back, where were you when Kashmiri Pundits were driven away from the Valley? In a way the tragedy being heaped on one minority is being justified in the name of suffering of Pundits and in the process violence is being normalized. This sounds as if two wrongs make a right, as if the suffering Muslim minority or those who are trying to talk in defense of minority rights have been responsible for the pain of Kashmiri Pundits.
During these three, many political formations have come to power, including BJP, Congress, third front and what have you. To begin with when the exodus took place Kashmir was under President’s rule and V. P. Singh Government was in power at the center. This Government had the external support of BJP at that time. Later BJP led NDA came to power for close to six years from 1998, under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Then from 2014 it is BJP, with Narerda Modi as PM, with BJP brute majority is in power. Other components of NDA are there to enjoy some spoils of power without any say in the policies being pursued by the Government. Modi is having absolute power with Amit Shah occasionally presenting Modi’s viewpoints.
Those blurting, ‘what about Kashmiri Pundits?’ are using it as a mere rhetoric to hide their communal color. The matters of Kashmir are very disturbing and cannot be attributed to be the making of Indian Muslims as it is being projected in an overt and subtle manner. Today, of course the steps taken by the Modi Government, that of abrogation of Article 370, abolition of clause 35 A, downgrading the status of Kashmir from a state to union territory have created a situation where the return of Kashmiri Pundits may have become more difficult, as the local atmosphere is more stifling and the leaders with democratic potential have been slapped with Public Safety Act, where they can be interned for long time without any answerability to the Courts. The internet had been suspended, communication being stifled in an atmosphere where democratic freedoms are curtailed which makes solution of any problem more difficult.
Kashmir has been a vexed issue where the suppression of the clause of autonomy, leading to alienation led to rise of militancy. This was duly supported by Pakistan. The entry of Al Qaeda elements, who having played their role against Russian army in 1980s entered into Kashmir and communalized the situation in Kashmir. The initial Kashmir militancy was on the grounds of Kashmiriyat. Kashmiriyat is not Islam, it is synthesis of teachings of Buddha, values of Vedant and preaching’s of Sufi Islam. The tormenting of Kashmiri Pundits begins with these elements entering Kashmir.
Also the pundits, who have been the integral part of Kashmir Valley, were urged upon by Goodwill mission to stay on, with local Muslims promising to counter the anti Pundit atmosphere. Jagmohan, the Governor, who later became a minister in NDA Government, instead of providing security to the Pundits thought, is fit to provide facilities for their mass migration. He could have intensified counter militancy and protected the vulnerable Pundit community. Why this was not done?
Today, ‘What about Kashmiri Pundits?’ needs to be given a serious thought away from the blame game or using it as a hammer to beat the ‘Muslims of India’ or human rights defenders? The previous NDA regime (2014) had thought of setting up enclosures of Pundits in the Valley. Is that a solution? Solution lies in giving justice to them. There is a need for judicial commission to identify the culprits and legal measures to reassure the Pundit community. Will they like to return if the high handed stifling atmosphere, with large number of military being present in the area? The cultural and religious spaces of Pundits need to be revived and Kashmiryat has to be made the base of any reconciliation process.
Surely, the Al Qaeda type elements do not represent the alienation of local Kashmiris, who need to be drawn into the process of dialogue for a peaceful Kashmir, which is the best guarantee for progress in this ex-state, now a Union territory. Communal amity, the hallmark of Kashmir cannot be brought in by changing the demographic composition by settling outsiders in the Valley. A true introspection is needed for this troubled area. Democracy is the only path for solving the emigration of Pundits and also of large numbers of Muslims, who also had to leave the valley due to the intimidating militancy and presence of armed forces in large numbers. One recalls Times of India report of 5th February 1992 which states that militants killed 1585 people from January 1990 to October 1992 out of which 982 were Muslims and 218 Hindus.
We have been taking a path where democratic norms are being stifled, and the promises of autonomy which were part of treaty of accession being ignored. Can it solve the problem of Pundits?
Comments
KAR-NATAKA...
:(
Most of the picture shows they are laughing also the police.. Which raises question of understanding!
Der was a statement frm our Dept regarding d stiff action. Is dis called stiff action?
Stiff action wud b a reality if scenario was different, if muslims was protest without permission.
Double standard
why laathi is not working here ??
Enough drama...Dirty politics...
Wah eth maryadeyna janaklu.. and oh my deware what a huge huge dozens of crowds.. oh my deware i cant even count how many they are :D
You foolish guys, Tippu did not destroy temples but in fact he built them and renovated them all....
In fact you destroyed babri masjid a few years back....how bad you guys are....moreover killing innocent muslims at that time and as well during modi's regime in Gujrath...bad people....
Tippu Zindabad!
How they laugh each other like children are playing. this is nothing else they know each other very well because both are chaddis.
In delhi how they drag Najeeb's mother .
well done BJP protest till end.
Kateel is a elected Member of Parliament. He should keep it in mind that all community from his constituency voted for his current position.
Every indian can protest. Then why Mr. Kateel is not participating in Muslim or Christian community protest?? Amazing
discrimination.
Wa/ Wa Master Kateel you Criminal looters thought to do some Loot Pat because of the Great Warriors Name!!!!!! Bap Ray Bap Which Part of the world you are in??? when you Criminal Looters thinking what?? we all understand you are all workless and how long you can leave this type of Life???? what you think being MP??
Never ever see like you Buffoon!!!
\Every Dog has its own day Kateelanna\"
Jai Hoo Siddanna,
Jai Hoo Parmarashwaranna."
let them do jayanthi or kabur whats the problem for u guys. please leave the place and queue up in the bank to exchange the notes.
Most of pics.. laughing each other. Protesters & Police.
conspiracy between Protesters and Police \YOU PRETEND LIKE BEATEN UP AND I PRETEND LIKE BEATING UP\""
Why police released all of this Gundas. Police should have done lati charge and put all of them behind bar under gunda act. Instead of carrying them like babies police could have beaten them with lati. Because of these anti national elements ad terrorists our india is in danger. Please punish them all including our useless MP.
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